Display apparatus



May 26, 1 925. 1,539,681,

L. R. M DONALD DI SPLAY APPARATUS Filed March 1'7, 1923 '4 Sheets-Sheet l avwmwoz,

A 64m 7f. 21 9011. @33 11417 gamma/1 May 26, 1 925.

L. R. M DONALD DI SPLAY APPARATUS .4 sheets -sheet 2 Filed March 17, 1925 May 26, 1925.

L. R. M DONALD DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed Marh 17, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Slum/" 60%.

0 a t tam Patented May 25, 1925.

UNITED STA'EES LESLIE R. MCDONALD, or MONTREAL,

DISPLAY APPARATUS. v.1:

eonsno, CANADA.

Application filed March 1'7, 15123. Serial No. 625,928.

To ((Z/ 'ZII/LOHI/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, LESLIE R. MCDONALD, a citizen of the United States, residing at ll'lontreal, Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and useful ln'iprovements in Display Apparatus. of which the following is a specification. 7

My invention relates to that class of display apparatuses wherein a considerable number of flexible placards are wound around a rotatable holder and are allowed to successively unroll ant drop into view position as the holder revolves, step by step; and my improvements are particularly directed to the means whereby the placards are successirely released and aused to assume the proper view position, and to details of construction in the holder and its rotating mechanism, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a top view of my improved apparatus, the case being removed; Fig. is a back elevation, the back of the case being removed and portions the lower part of the apparatus being broken away to condense the figure; Fig. 3 is a view, of the spindle and placard holding elements, partly in section; Fig. l is an end view on an enlarged scale, taken as lookingtoward the left on Fig. 2, the carrier rotating elements being omitted for clearness; Fig. 5 is a view, on a still further enlarged scale, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2, looking to aid the left; Fig. 6 is a detail, taken on the line (S6 of Fig. 5, looking down, the section line 6-6 being at right angles to the line of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a detail, on the same scale as F ig. 4, illustrating the relative positions on their carrying shaft of the elements fonholding and releasing the ends of the placards; Fig. 8 is a detail, on the same scale as 5, showing the relative positions on their carrying shaft of the tee. governing cams; and Fig. 9 is a detail, on an enlarged scale, of a modification of the top of a supporting.standard.

Similar reference numerals designate similar parts in all the figures.

" apparatus is preferably ass bled in ale ase 1, provided with a u...ial open,

covered front, which is omitted in .wings as being well understood in ne art. The parts ar carried by itable standards, as 2, preferably forked as in dicated by the broken line 77 in F 4, so that the spindle 8,'carrying with :itrthe various elements centeredaround it, may conveniently be lowered into the forks in carrier, in which, pe-,-

mounting the placard SZt'lOZl it may be secured by tighteningbolts as 9, 9, which pass through the normally stationary elements centered aroundathe shaft,

and through clamping plates 10 and 11.

Elie spindle 8' carries not only theedisk's.

15, which are peripherally slotted tore:

ceive the ends of the placard carrying bars and the keeper disks 16,17, but also-intermediate disks 18, 19,21, whichere convene iently spaced to support the placard carry-.

lug bars, one of which is indicated icy-22,.

in F 3, so that the barsw-ill not become bent out of proper position or displaced in the usual operation of the apparatus.-

The keyhole slot in permits the introduction of the placard carirying bars, one by one, into their properpositions in'the slots in disks 15, 15, the :ro tation of the disk 16 relativeto the disk 15 serving to lock the ends of the bars in=position under the flange of the disk 16.

A motor 25, through a worm 26 on its shaft 27, rotates a worm gear Wheel 28 mounted on shaft 29, upon the inner end of which'is journaled frictionally a pawl arm 30, the detent 31 of which engages with the; teeth 32, 32 on the keeper disk 16, and is normally pressed up against thesame by the rotation of the shaft 29. Theshaft 29 also carries an eccentricfifil, upon which is mounted the feeding pawl 34,:which lS'l'G- cipro-cated by the rotation of the eccentric,- so that itsdc tent will teeth 32 and turn the carrier one tooth for each revolution of the-shaft 29. The detent- 31 extends over tho-arm 34, which actsfas a keeper to prevent its dropping out of 0perativc position, the frictional resistanceproduccd by the springwasherrlfi should be insuiiicient to hold the arm to duty.

, The shaft" 29 has a pair of disks l0, 41, so secured as to turn with the shaft; and between them is an eccentric 42,which is secured to turn with the disks, as by a pin 43, and around the eccentric and between the disks is mounted one end oi an arnreti), so that the rotation of the'shatt 29 raises and lowers thefarn'i 45, whichis preferably extensible and made with a terminal portion the keeperfdisk 16,

engage with the has been released by 'ing a thin blade 76 projecting 46, which is adjustably secured to the arm 45, as by bolts 47, 47 passing through its slot 48. The arm 45 is provided with a counterweight 49 or other suitable means to cause it normally to incline away from the placard carrier.

The upper end of the terminal 46 is provided with two fingers 50 and 51, the finger 50 having two recesses in its inner side these fingers constituting a toothed clutch; and into the opening between the fingers extend four pins 52, 52, which project laterally between disks 53, 58 forming a pinion keyed to a shaft 54, which is journaled between arms 55, 56, carried by the supports 2 and 3, the spindle S passing through them, so radial adjustmentof the shaft 54, relative to the placard carrier, is permitted and may be governed by a stud 57 adjust-ably mounted in a slot in the arm 55.

. This shaft 54 carries placard holding and releasing elements 60, 61, which are adapted to press against the roll of placards, and to release the end of one placard with each quarter revolution of the shaft 54.

When, therefore, the arm 45 is drawn down'by the turning of the shaft 29 from the position shown in Fig. 5, it will give the shaft 54 a quarter turn, the pins between the disks 53 and 58 permitting this movement but preventing retrograde movement. This turning of the shaft 54 produces a corresponding quarter turn of the elements 60, 61, which alternately release the notched ends of placards which are so adjusted that the end of one placard is freed with each quarter turn of the shaft 54.

Upon the shaft 29 is mounted a cam 70, which travels beneath and rocks an arm 71, of a bell crank 71, 72 journaled on the shaft 8. The arm .7 2 carries a rod 7 3, upon which are mounted two pawl arms 74, 75, each havfrom its under side. The pawl 74 carries an arm 77, preferably of spring metal; and the pawl 75 has a similar arm 78. These arms 7 7' and 78, respectively, lie over and against cam arms 79 and 80, which are mounted at right angles to each other upon the shaft 54. bell crank-71, 72

Consequently, when the is rocked by the cam 70, the pawls 74, 75 will be swung forward and back around the roll of placards; and on theforward stroke one of them will be held up out of contact with the placard roll by its arm 77 or 78 being raised by its cooperating cam arm 79 or 80; while the other pawl will press against the placard roll, and its blade 76 will slip under the edge of the placard which cam or 61. The continued forward move ment'of the pawl will push the end of the released placard forward, allowing the air to flow in beneath it, and overcoming any placards rolled the appropriate holding tendency which may exist for it to hang to the roll of placards, so that the placard will immediately release itself from the roll and drop down into view position.

It will be understood that the relative adjustments of the apparatus are such that the step by step rotation of the placard carrier releases the placard ends one by one from the control of the cams 60, 61, which turn in the opposite direction from-the placard carrier, thus keeping the ends of the placards snagged up around the roll, and that the throw of the pawls 74, is timed to push forward and free from the roll the ends of the placards successively released.

A bar 90, adjustable radially of the placard roll by. means of having its ends carried in slots in arms 91, 92 which are centered around spindle 8, and supported by standards 1 and 2, through suitable means, as studs 93, 93 and bolts 94, 94, carries ex? panded roll keepers 95, 95, which curve around the placard roll below the releasing mechanism, and act to keep the body of and to reroll those which have been released, as the carrier revolves.

In the primary form illustrated for the supports 2 and 3 they are shown as being forked at their upper ends, so that the placard carrier and its associated parts may be lifted radically out of the supports. In some forms of assembling it is preferable, however, to be able to remove the carrier from the supports in a different direction. In Fig. 9 is illustrated the upper end of a supporting standard, in which the fork is disposed at a laterally inclined angle, so that the spindle and its associated parts may be removed laterally from the standard if that is desirable.

By means of my improvements I secure a display apparatus in which the important elements which require relative adjustment are centered around a common axis, and may be removed from or placed in position in their supporting means as a unitary assembly,tlms greatly facilitating the arrangement and rearrangement of placards, and

the relative adjustment of the parts of the apparatus.

Also, in this apparatus the normal effect of the placard releasing mechanism is to keep the placards snugly rolled up until the time arrives for releasing each one of them, when, not only is the end ofthe placard freed from the detaining mechanism, but it is also positively and mechanically pushed forward so as to cause the placard to unroll and to drop into new position.

It will be understood that the form of apparatus shown is to be taken as a preferred type, but not as an exclusive one. For it is evident that details of construction may be modified, as by the use of mechanical equivalents, without departing from the spirit and scope otm'y invention as described and claimed.

Having thus described my invention, Whatv I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of .thtLL HltOCI States is:. I

1. In adisplay apparatus the combination 01 a rotatable placard carrier, a series of flexible placards each carried by one end thereby and adapted to bev rolled in close contact with each other aroundthe carrier, the free ends of the placards being of substantially the normal thickness thereof, and mechanical means for engaging With and successively separating the. free ends of the placards.

2. In display apparatus, the combination of a rotatable placard carrier, a series of flexible plZlCfil'ClS: each carried by one end thereb and adapted .to be rolled in close contact with each other around the carrier, the free ends of the placards being of sub stantially the normal thicknessthereof,and mechanical, propulsive means tor'engaging with and successively separating the free ends of the placards.

Ina display apparatus, the combination of a rotatable placard carrier, a series ot flexible placards each carried by one end thereby, and ,adaptedito be rolled in close contact with each other around the carrier, the tree ends of the-placards being of substantially the normal thickness thereof. and mechanicalmeans for, engaging and successively separating and pushing forward the free ends ot the placards;

41-. In a display ,apparatus, the. combination of a rotatable placard carrier, a series of flexible placards rolled aroundthe carrier and each having a free end of substantially the noru'ialthicknessof the placard, means for releasing thet'ree ends of the placards onebyionc, and mechanical means .t'or successiyely ,engaging beneath and separating the free ends of the placards from the roll.

In a display apparatus, the combination of a rotatable placard carrier, a series of flexible placards rolled around the can rier and each having a free end, means for releasing the free ends of the placards one by one. and reciprocating means for engaging with and successively separating the free ends of the placards from the roll.

(5. In a display apparatus, the combination of a rotatable placard carrier, a series of flexible placards rolled. around the carrier and each secured thereto by one end, carrier rotating means, means for releasing the free ends of the placards successively, and mechanical means actuated by the carrier rotating means. for engagingbeneath and separating said free ends as released from the roll of placards.

7. In a display apparatus, the combination of a rotatable placard carrier. a-series of flexible placards rolled around the -car-.

rier and each secured thereto by one end, carrier rotating means, means for releasing the tree ends of the placards successively, and mechanical means, actuated by the carrier rotating means andembodying pushing pan'ls, for separating said free ends as'rele'asedfrom the roll of placards. I I

8. In a-display apparatus,thecombina tion ot' ametatable' placard 'carriey-a series of flexible placards rolled around the carrier and each secured thereto by one end,'carrier rotating means, me ns for releasing the free ends of theplacards successively, and m ans, en'lbodying alternately acting pawls, for-separatingsaid tree ends as re leased from the roll of placards. v

9. In a display apparatus. the combina-. tion of a rotatable placard carrier, a series of 'tleXible' placards rolled around thecarrier and each securcdthereto by .(111e,ei1d, carrier rotating means, means for releasing the free ends ot the placards successively, and means, embodying alternately acting pawls governed by the releasing actuating n'ieans, for separating said free ends as released from the roll of placards.

10. In a display apparatus, the combiuation of a rotatable placard carrier, a series ot-t'er ihle placarns rolled around the car rierand each secured theretoby one end, carrier rotating IIIQZIREJUQHDS for releasing theafree ends of the placards successively, and n'ieans, embodying a pair of alternately acting pau'ls, for separating said free ends as released from the rollof placards 11. In a displayapparatus, the combinationof a rotatable placardcarnier,-a series of flexible placards rier andreach-secured theretoby one end, 'arricr rotating means, means for releasing the, tree ends of the-placards suecessively, and means, embodying alternately acting pawls. for sepz-irating; said tree ends as released from .I/llBwl'Oll-Of placards, and means eiubodying a bell crank tor actuating the said paWls.

12.7 In adisplay apparatus, the combination of a -,rotatable placard carrier,,a series of flexible: placards rolledaround the carrier and each secured thereto by one end, carrier rotating means, means for releasing the freeends ot the and means, enlbodying alternately acting pawls, for se mrating said, free ends as releasedtrom the roll of placards, and means embodying a bell crank and an actuating cam for actuating the said pavvls.

13. .In a display apparatus,-tl1e eombination. of a rotatable placard carrier, arseries of flexible placardsrol ed around the carrier and. each securedthereto-by one end, carrier rotating means step bystep operating means for releasing the free ends of the placards successively, and means, embodying alternately acting pauls;,acting,in uni,-

rolled around the-carplacards successively,

lit)

of the placards from the roll.

by one,

' ness as the placard, carrier 15 In a display apparatus, the combination of a rotatable placard carrier, a series of flexible placards each attached by one end to and wound around the carrier, and having free ends of substantially the same thickness as the placard, carrier rotating means, and intermittently rotatable means,

- for releasing the free ends of the placards successively.

16. In a display apparatus, the combination of a rotatable placard carrier, flexible placards rolled on the carrier, and having free ends of substantially the same thickness as the placard, and intermittently rotatable means for releasing the free ends of the placards one by one.

17. In a display apparatus, the combination of a rotatable placard carrier, flexible placards rolled on the carrier, and having free ends of substantially the same thickrotating means, rotatable means, for releasing the free ends of the placards one by one, and means for actuating the rotatable means step by step.

18. In a display apparatus, the comb-ination of a rotatable placard carrier, flexible placards rolled on the carrier, and having free ends of substantially the same thickness as the placard, rotatable means for releasing the free ends of the placards one by one, and reciprocating means for actuating the rotatable means step by step.

19. In a display apparatus, the combination of a rotatable placard carrier, flexible placards rolled on the carrier and rotatable means, embodying a plurality of alternately operating placard gripping elements, for releasing the free. ends of the placards one and reciprocating means for actuating the rotatable means step by step and for preventing reverse movement thereof.

7 step and for preventing reverse 20. In a. display apparatus ,the combination of a rotatable placard carrier, flexible placards rolled on the carrier, and rotatable of alternately gripping elements, for releasing the free ends of the placards one'by one, and reciprocating and oscillating means for actuating-the rotatable means step by movement thereof.

'21. In a display apparatus, tion of a rotatable placard carrier,

the combinaplacards rolled on the carrier, and'rotatable means, embodying a plurality of alternately operating placard gripping elements, for releasing the free ends of the placards one by one, and extensible reciprocating means for actuating the rotatable means step by step preventing reverse movement a forked arm, for actuating the rotatable means step by step and for preventing reverse movement thereof. V

23. In a display apparatus, the combination of a'rotatable placard carrier, flexible placards rolled on the carrier, and rotatable means, embodying a plurality of alternately operating placard gripping elements, for releasing the free ends of the placards one by one, and reciprocating means embodying a toothed clutch, for actuating the rotatable means step by step and forpreveuting re verse movement thereof. I

24. In a display apparatus, the comb nation of a rotatable placard carrier, flexible placards rolled on the carrier, and rotatable means, embodying a plurality of alternately operating placard gripping elements, for releasing the free ends of the placards one by one, and reciprocating means embodying a reciprocating, unitary, propelling and holding elementcooperating with a plmon for actuating the rotatable means step by step and for preventing reverse movement thereof. a

25. In a display tion, with a rotatable placard carrier, of means for rotating the carrier step by step, embodying a ratchet wheel and a retractable, ca-m-actuated pawl arm provided with a tooth laterally projecting therefrom in one direction and a detent cooperating pawl provided with a tooth laterally projecting therefrom in the opposite direction. 26. In a display ap'paratus, the combination, with a rotatable placard carrier, of means for rotatingthe carrier step by step, embodying a ratchet wheel and a retractable, cam-actuated pawl arm provided with a laterally projecting tooth and a detent pawl provided with a tooth therefrom across the cam-actuated pawl arm.

27. In a display apparatus, the combination, with a rotatable placard carrier, of means for rotating the embodying a ratchet wheel, a rotating shaft provided with an eccentric cam, a retractable and projectable pawl arm carried by apparatus, the combinalaterally projecting carrier step by step,

said cam and provided with a laterally projecting tooth, a detent pawl mounted on said shaft and provic ed with a tooth projecting laterally in a direction opposite to the first mentioned tooth, and frictional means for coordinating the movements of the said pawl arm and detent pawl.

28. In a display apparatus, the combination of a rotatable placard carrier provided with a series of flexible placards each atached thereto by one end and rolled thereupon, intermittently rotatable means for re leasing the tree ends of the placards one by one, and intermittently operable mechanical means for definitely separating rat-h freed end from the roll as released, means for rotating the placard carrier step by step, and common means for actuating the said carrier rotating means, releasing means and separating means.

29. In a display apparatus, the combination of a rotatable placard carrier provided with a series of flexible placards each attached thereto by one end and rolled thereupon, intermittently rotatable means for releasing the free ends of the placards one by one, reciprocating means for definite ly separating each freed end from the roll as released, means for rotating the placard carrier step by step, and common means, for actuating the said carrier rotating means, releasing means and separating means.

LESLIE R. MCDONALD. 

